Reversible driving mechanism for tumblers



Jan. 29, 1929 H. c. ELLIS REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR TUMBLERS Filed Feb. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,125

, H. c. ELLIS REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR TUMBLERS Filed Feb. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Slfeet 2 Jan. 29, 1929. 1,700,125

H. c. ELLIS REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR TUMBLERS Fi1ed.Feb. 1927 h tS-ShQO'b 3 15%? fa r W a Jan. 29, 1929.

H. C. ELLIS Rzvmismw mglvme MECHANISM FOR TUMBLERS Filed Feb. 26, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet Patented Jan. 29, 1929 v UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

HUBERT C; ELLIS, OF EVANS'ION, ILLINOIS.

REVERSIBLE DRIVING MECHANISM FOR TUMBLERS.

Application filed February 26, 1927'. Serial No. 171,109.

The invention relates to driving mechanism for reversibly driving tumblers, such as the cylinders of washing machines, driers, orthe like.

One object of the invention is to provide mechanism of this type with improved controlling mechanism whereby the cylinder may be manually controlled to stop at a predetermined point. I 7

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved brake for this type of driving mechanism which is operable by the lever which controls the automatic reversingmeehanism and the manual control which will release the brake when the cylinder is being operated under automatic or manual control, and this object is attained primarily by pro viding a brake which is adapted to release in two alternate positions into which it is shifted by the controlling lever. Another object of the invention is to provide improved controlling mechanism which is operable to stop the cylinder at any time and which will always start the machine from a predetermined point and in the same direct-ion. Other objects will appear from the description.

The invention consists in the several novel features hereinafter set forth and more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing: Fig. 1 is'a side elevation of a machine embodying the invention, parts being broken away for illustrative purposes. Fig. 2' is a rear elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan of the driving mechanism. Fig.4: is a sectionon line 4.-4 of Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a section on line 55 of Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a detail of the cam and the shifter therefor which is operable by the manual control lever. Fig. 7 is a plan of the automatic reversing device, the enclosing casing being shown in sections. Fig. 8 is a detail section of the adjustable connection between the slidable collar on the reversing shaft and the manually shiftahle controller arm. Fig. 8* is a section on line 8 8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9 is a sectional view, illustrating the braxe forthe cylinder. Fig. 10 is a section on line 1010 of Fig. 9.

The invention is exemplified in connection with a washing machine comprising a casing A which contains a washing cylinder (not shown) which is alternately operated in series of revolutions in opposite directions, as well understood in the art. The cylind er is driven from a shaft I) through any suitable gearing, such as a pinion I) fixed to the shaft, an idler gear 6 and a gear 6 fixed to the shaft (1" of the cylinder.

The drive-shaft b is journalled in suitable bearings a and a Bearing 0a is secured to a pair of channel beams a which are secured to a bracket a at either-end of the casing'A and which carries bearings (4 A drive pulley Ms 1 fixedly secured to the shaft 6 between two loose pulleys 0 and '0 The pulleys are each confined by collars Z2 against longitudinal movement on the shaft 6. The pulley cis adapted to be'driven by a crossed belt 0 and pulley 0 by an uncrossed belt 0*, usually from an overhead pulley, so that the belts will be constantly driven in opposite directions;

the belt 0*. Belt 0 drives the loose pulley 0 in one direction, and yoke (Z is adapted to shift said belt from the loose pulley'onto thedrive pulley 0-, to drive shaft b in one direction. Belt 0 drives the loose pulley a in the opposite direction, and yoke (Z is adapted to shift said belt onto the drive pulley c'to drive shaft 6 in the opposite direction. This exemplifies a series of pulleys by which the driveshaft Z) may be alternately driven in opposite directions under automatic belt-shifting mechanism.

This belt-shifting mechanism comprises a vertical shaft 6 which isjournalled in a hearing eon a bracket 6 which is secured to the gear-housing 6 an arm 6 fixedly secured to the upper end of shaft 0; and a link 6 which is pivoted to-the distal end of said arm, and at c to a lug e on the slide d, to which the belt shifting bar cl is secured. Gearing for oscils lating the shaft 6 toreciproeate the slide d is pontinuously operated from the loose puly 02. V.

Thegearing for operating the shaft 6 from pulley 0 comprises a worm f which is free to rotate on shaft 6 and extends throughone side of the housing 6 and is provided with driving lugs which interengage with an adapter f W1IlCl'l is secured to the hub of the pulley 0 Worm f meshes with a-worm' gear f which is rotatably mounted on a studshaft f held in the back of the housing 6 and carries an eccentric pin 7 which rotates con tinuously in one direction. The belt a is of such width that, when it is shifted onto the drive pulley 0, a sufficient portion will remain lapped around the loose pulley 0 so that the bottom of the casing e and in a bearingc which is bolted to the front of the casing. A

shifter member f is fixed to the shaft 7' and is provided with a pair of arms 7 and 7 which are extended vertically so as to be engaged by the stud f he contiguous faces of these arms are co-relatively disposed so that the stud will operate the arm 7* out of its path of rotation during one-half revolution of the stud and to simultaneously shift the arm 7 into position to be engaged by the stud during its next half revolution, and vice versa. As a result, the stud will, at the end of one-half revolution of the Worm f shift the member f alternately in opposite directions to rock the shaft 7.

' A releasable coupling is provided between the shafts f and e to control the automatic shifting of the slide cZ so that during normal operation, the belt shifting mechanism will be automatically operated to shift the belts at the end of predetermined cycles and so that the belt-shifting mechanism may be disconnected. This coupling comprises a clutch collar 9 pinned to the upper end of shaft 7,

" and a coacting clutch collar 9 which is slidably mounted on, and splined to, the shaft 6. When the clutch collar 9 is raised, the interfitting teeth on the collars are disengaged so that the shaft e will stop while the shaft will continue to rotate. Shafts e and f are coaxial or aligned, and the lower end of the shaft 6 is extended into the collar g to provide a journal for the lower end of the shaft 6.

The interfitting teeth of collars g and g are formed so that the shafts e and 7 may be coupled together only at a predetermined point so as to maintain the timed relation between the belt shifting mechanism and the gearing for automatically shifting it, as e);- emplified by the notch 9 in collar 9 and a single tooth g on the collar 9 This con struction permits the belt shifting mechanism to be manually manipulated at will independentjly of the automatic shifting mechanism when the clutch collars 9 g are uncoupled and also provides for coupling them together at one point only so that the shafts e and f i will be correctly connected for effecting the movement of the slide 03, regardless of the position in which the slide (Z may stop. The casing e is adapted to contain a lubricant, and is provided with a removable top cover 9 to provide access to the gearing therein when desired. p

The means for manually shifting the clutch collar 9 to control the operation of the machine comprises an arm h which is provided with forked terminals h to engage trunnions 71/2 on a collar h". a To adjust the clutch collar g relatively to the arm h, collar it is screwthreaded to a sleeve h in which the collar 9 is rotatable, the sleeve h being confined against endwise movement in the collar 9. By rotation of the sleeve 71 the position of the collar 7& may be adjusted to effect the proper coupling of the clutch members 9 and g relatively to the control lever and connecting parts. Arm 72, has its rear end fixed to a slide [2 which is vertically movable in a guide it formed in the housing 6 A roller k is held in the upper end of the slide k and is adapted to operate a cam Z which is integrally formed with the slide d.

This cam comprises downwardly divergent or relatively angled surfaces Z and Z so that the roller 7U may pass between these cam portions when the slide cl is in any of its positions and will shift the slide into the neutral position as the roller 71 enters the apex Z between the divergent surfaces Z and Z. The cam Z is also provided with an inclined slot it which leads upwardly from the apex Z and is adapted to shift the slide cl in that direction which will bring the belt 0 onto and oil the driving pulley c. The roller h is adapted to be shifted into the apex Z to shift the slide (Z into neutral position and to be given an additional stroke, so that it will act in slot 72/ and shiftthe slide (Z into and out of position to render the driving pulley c operative by the belt a. This slot is designed so that when the cylinder is to be operated under manual control, the drivepulley 0 will be operated in one direction only.

A control lever is is suitably fulcrumcd, as at 71:, to one side of the casing A and is provided with a linger controlled lock by which the lever it may, in conjunction with notches 7c", 75 and it, be locked in three predetermined positions. This lever is connected to rock a rod is which is suitably journalled in bearings 71: by means of a link le which is pivoted at is" to said lever, and arm 76 fixed to shaft is and to which the link is pivoted, as at is. Shaft 71: is connected to operate the slide bar ZLS by means of an arm in fixed to rocloshaft 7: and an adjustable linl: 7c between said arm and the lower end of said slide bar. When lever 70 is locked in notch 76*, the slide bar it will be raised sin? ciently to uncouple the collar g from the constantly driven collar 9 and roller F1 on said bar will be positioned in the apex Z of the cam Z, at which time tl e slide (Z will be in its neutral position, so that both of the oppositely running drivin belts will be on the loose pulleys respectively; When the lever 70 is locked in notch it", slide bar 71 will be positioned to hold arm h in position to couple the clutch collars g 9, so that the l till slide (Z will be constantly reciprocated through shaft 6, arm a and link 6 to intermittently shift the belt yokes to alternately shift the belts onto the drive. pulley .0 so they will be alternately operated in reverse directions for predetermined cycles. In practice, it is necessary to stop the cylinder when it is to be loaded or unloaded, and the stopping of the cylinder may occur at any point, depending upon the time when the lever is is shifted into neutral position. The casings of machines of this character are usually provided with a door to provide access to the cylinder, and the latter is provided with a door which must be brought into reg istry vith the door of the casing when the cylinder is to be loaded or unloaded. Therefore,'it isdesirable to control the operation of the cylinder manually bC operateit into its correct position for loading and unload ing. For this purpose, the controller lever is is operable forwardly towards the notch a to shiftthe slide bar It upwardly a sufficient distance to cause the roller to operate in the cam slot Ji to shift the slide (Z, so that the belt 0* will pass onto the drive pulley c and operate the gearing for driving the cylinder in one direction. By manipulating the lever is, the operator can manually control the rotation of the cylinder into the desired position, this being generally known asFspotting the cylinder. If desired, the lever 76 may be locked in notch k, to operate the cylinder continuously in one direction. This exemplifies mechanism for manually controlling the belt controller slide which is auto matically operable and by manual means which limits the rotation of the cylinder under manual control to one direction, so thatthe operator will always know the direction in which the cylinder will be rotated under manual control.

In controlling devices for a reversible gearing for cylinders, it is usually necessary to apply a brake to the cylinder at the time the cylinder is reversed or when it is stopped and to control the brake conjointly with the controlfor the driving mechanism. It is also desirable to provide that the brake shall be operable by the controller lever, and to provide for the release of the brake when the lever is set for automatic or manual control of the gearing. This feature is exemplified in the braking device which comprises brake drum on which is fixedly secured to the sh Z). One side of the drum is closed by a plate m, which is secured by bolts m to the bracket a Each brake shoe ha is pivoted to a stud m which is fixed in the bracketa'. Each shoe is provided with a lining m to engage the inner periphery of thebrake-druin m. A

spring m is connected to the brake shoes to normally draw them together into releasing position. A sleeve of 1s adgustably connected to the shoe by a screw-thread. Each sleeve springs m to insure a uniform gripping of the shoes against the drum. Cam m is fixed to a shaft m which is journalled in the bracket a and operatively connected. to the shaft so that the brake will be controlled by the lever in conjointly with the control of y the reversible gearing. The connection between shafts 7c and m comprises an arni m fixed to shaft 5, a link on pivoted to said arm, and an arm m fixed to shaft m of cam m The rocker or double cam m is adapted to spread the heads m to apply the brakes when the lever 70 is locked in neutral notch 1: and to release the brakes when the lever is shifted forwardly from its neutral position to render automatic control operative and to also release the brakes when the lever is shifted rearwardly to manually control the gearing. This con-' struct1on exemplifies a braking device which is controlled by the lever which controls the gearing and which is adapted to apply the brakes when the lever is in its neutral position and the cylinder is stopped, and to release the brakes when the lever is shifted in either direction from its neutral position, so that when the driving mechanism is being operated under automatic con trol or under manual control, the brake will be released and set whenever the control lever is shifted to its neutral position.

The operation will be as follows: When the lever is is in its neutral position and locked in notch 70, its connection with shaft 70 will retain the slide if in the position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 5, so the clutch collars will be disengaged so that shaft 6 will be idle and the belt shifter slide (Z will also be idle. In this position of the lever is, the roller 7L will be disposed in the apex Z of the cam Z to hold the slide (Z in its neutral position, so that the oppositely running belts will be on the loose pulleys c, 0 respectively. In this position of the lever /c,the shaft m will hold the double cam on in the position shown in Fig. 9, so that the brake shoes m will be applied to the brake drum m to hold the shaft 6 against rotation in either direction. operate the machine so that the cylinder will hen it is desired to continuously be operated in alternating cycles in different I the shift of the lever is from its neutralposi tion will operatethe shaft 70 which in turn.

Will operate the cam m to release the brakes and Will lower the slide 7&5 to bring the clutch collar 9' into mesh With the clutch collar g The latter, rotating continuously, Will, at the proper point, mesh Witl the collar 9 This clutching will cause shaft 6 to be intermittently oscillated With the shaft f so that the slide (Z will be intermittently reciprocatecl to alternately shift the belt 0 onto the drive pulley c for operation of the cylinder in one direction for the desired period and then simultaneously shift both of the belts to take belt 0 oil the drive pulley c and to shift the belt 0 onto it. This operation Will continue as long as the lever 7: remains in its neutral position. To stop the machine, the operator Will shift the lever 175 to neutral position. This shift will set the brake and raise the arm 72, to uncouple the shaft 6 from the continuously operating shaft f, and the holler it? will engage either of the divergent surfaces Z, Z of the cam Z, and pass into the apex Z so that the slide (Z Will be operated from any position into the neutral position and to render the drive pulley 0 inoperative by either of the oppositely running belts. It is usually necessary to spot the cylinder; that is to bring the door in the cylinder into registry With the door in the casing, to provide access to the entry of the cylinder, because the cylinder may stop at any point. For this purpose, the operator will grasp the lever and push it baclzivardly from its neutral position. This shift of the lever Will operate the doublearnied'cain M to release the brake and the slide if upwardly to operate the roller if so that it will act in the cam slot 78 to shift the belt shifter slide (Z in one direction so that a portion of the belt a will pass onto the drive pulley 0, so that the cylinder Will be operated in one direction. When the correct point is reached, the operator Will restore the lever is to its neutral position to stop the cylinder and operate the slide d to shift the belt 0 oil the drive pulley c.

The invention exemplifies reversible driving mechanism for cylinders. The operator, through a single lever, may manually control the belt shifters, the automatic belt shifting device and the brake for the driving mechanism; in Which. the manual control of the belt shifter is adapted to cause the cylinder to be rotated in one direction only, so that the operator will know in which the cylinder Will revolve to its correct position for access; and in which the braking device is released When the control lever is shifted to set the automatic control, and When it is shifted to manually control the belt shifting mechanism.

lhe invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth, since these may be modified Within the scope of the appended claims, Without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In reversible driving mechanism, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions, reversing means, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the reversing means, to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions, a control lever, n'ieans operable by the lever for manually operating the reversing means to operate the shaft in one direction only, and means operated by the lever for controlling the automaic operation of the reversing means.

2. In re ersible driving mechanism, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite direct ms comprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belts, reversing means, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the reversing i'ncai to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually operating the reversing means to operate the shaft in one direction only, and means operated by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reversing means.

in reversible driving mechanism, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mecha nism for di vng the shaft in opposite directions compi ng a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belts, belt shifting means to reverse the direction, and control the operation of the driven shaft, driven mechanism for auton'iatically and intermittently operating the belt-shifting means, to alter nately drive the snaft in opposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually operating the reversing means to operate the shaft in one direction only, and means operated by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reversing means.

4. in reversible driving mechanism, the combination a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions comprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belts, belt-shifting means to reverse the direction and control the operation of the shaft, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the belt shifting means, to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually operating the reversing means comprising a cam by which the shifting means Will be first ope ted into neutral position from any point, provided with means to shift the reversing vhanism to operate the shaft in one directron only, and means operated by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reversing means. V

5. in reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to bedriven,

V posite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually operating-the reversing means, means operable by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reversing mechanism, a brake for stopping the shaft, and brake operating means operable by the lever to apply the brake When the lever and reversing means are in neutral position and to release the brake when the lever is shifted either to render the automatic mechanism operable or When the reversing means is manually operated by the lever.

6. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions comprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belts, reversing means for the driving mechanism, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating thereversing means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually operating the reversing means, means operable by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reversing mechanism, a brake for stopping the shaft, and brake operating means operable by the lever to apply the brake when the lever and reversing means are in neutral position and to release the brake when the lever is shifted either to render the automatic mechanism operable or When the reversing means is manually operated by the lever.

7. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions, reversing means for the driving mechanism, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the reversing means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually ope 'ating the reversing means, means operable by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reversing mechanism, a brake for stopping the shaft comprising a drum and a plurality of shoes, and brake operating means comprising a cam operated by the lever so as to apply the shoes when the lever and re versing means are in neutral position and to release the shoes When the lever is shifted either to render the automatic mechanism operable or When the reversing means is manually operated by the lever.

8. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions, reversing means for the driving mechanism, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the reversing means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually operating the reversing means, means operable by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reverse'mechanism, a brake for stopping the shaft, and brake operating means comprising an element operable by the lever to apply the brake When the lever and reversing means are in neutral position and rotatable in opposite direction from its operative position so as to release the brake When the lever is shifted to render the automatic mechanism operable and When the reversing means is manually operated by the lever.

9. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions, reversing means, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating said reversing means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually shifting the reversing means comprising a reciprocatory cam having divergent surfaces to shift the reversing means to its neutral position, and a cam-Way extending in one direction from the apex of said divergent surfaces to shift the reversing mechanism to operate the shaft in one direction only, and means controlled by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the reversing mechanism.

10. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions, comprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys and oppositely running belts, belt shifting means to reversibly drive and control the shaft, driven mechanism for antomatically and intermittently operating said means to alternately drive the shaft in 0pposite directions, a control lever, means operable by the lever for manually shifting the reversing means comprising a reciprocatory cam having divergent surfaces to shift the belt shifting means to its neutral position, and a cam-Way extending in one direction from the apex of said divergent surfaces to shift the belt shifting means to operate the shaft in one direction only, and means operable by the lever for controlling the automatic operation of the belt-shifting means.

11. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the' combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions comprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belt-s, belt-shifting means, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the belt-shifting means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions comprising a pair of aligned shafts,

coupling members on the shafts respectively, a control lever connected to shift one of the coupling members, and means operable by the lever for manually operating the shiftmg means.

12. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions coniiprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belts, belt shifting means, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the belt shifting means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions comprising a pair of aligned shafts, coupling members on' the shafts respectively, a control lever connected to shift one of the coupling members engageable at one point only, and means operable by the lever for manually operating the shifting means.

13. In reversible driving mechanism for tumblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions comprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belts,

' belt shifting means, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the belt-shifting means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions comprising a pair of aligned shafts, coupling members on the shafts respectively, a slide to shift one of the members, a control lever connected to shift said slide, and meansoperable by the lever for manually operating the shifting means, comprising a cam operable by the slide.

14-. In reversible driving mechanism for tinnblers, the combination of a shaft to be driven, mechanism for driving the shaft in opposite directions comprising a fixed pulley, loose pulleys, and oppositely running belts, belt shifting means, driven mechanism for automatically and intermittently operating the belt-shifting means to alternately drive the shaft in opposite directions comprising a reciprocatory bar and a pair of aligned shafts, coupling members on the shafts respectively, a slide connected to shift one of the members, a control lever connected to shift said slide, and a cam operable by the slide for manually operating the shifting means.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 81st day of January, 1927.

HUBER-T C. ELLIS. 

